Sensor networks rely on a variety of sensors working together to efficiently gather information and distribute information. Effective education and outreach efforts also require connections between scientists and educators and efficient communication between these “nodes”. When designing sensor networks, each node plays a key role in both the observations and the communication. This network is often graphically displayed to better understand the network function and capacity. By visualizing your broader impacts network through tools like social network analysis, you can similarly identify the function and capabilities of your network. Identification of key nodes such as bottlenecks and weak links or hubs and gatekeepers can help ensure outreach efforts are successful and sustainable. Examples from the Centers of Ocean Science Education Excellence (COSEE) network, the New England Ocean Science Collaborative (NEOSEC), and the Watershed-Integrated Sciences Partnership (WISP) will be used to demonstrate how social networks behave like sensor networks for effective education and outreach efforts.